Trailing Hose System for Aquatic Ecosystem Liquid and Granular Materials Application

ABSTRACT

A trailing hose system is disclosed for the application of materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) in a water body. The trailing hose or hoses release the material (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) at the desired depth within the water column. The current technology for the subsurface application of these materials is surface injection, granular spreaders, and the use of weighted hoses deployed from a vessel (boat). Surface injection of these materials below the thermocline, or to the bottom of a water body in sufficient concentrations to control the target pest, to deactivate nutrients, and or enhance water quality is required in the industry. The current technology that utilizes the use of weighted hose is cumbersome, and is a slow process that allows for the application of these materials at approximately 1-2 miles per hour.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

APPARATUS AND PROCESS

This invention relates to the process of subsurface applications of liquid and granular materials including aquatic herbicides, pesticides, larvacides, mulluscicides, algaecides, piscides, aluminum sulfate, other pesticides, and other granular and liquid products to waterways (lakes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, bays and impoundments, oceans and estuaries) for the control of aquatic vegetation, algae, fish, mussels, nutrients fluctuations, water quality enhancement, and other invasive aquatic species. The trailing hose system consists of one or more hoses deployed from a vessel in sufficient lengths to allow the application of granular or liquid products to various depths, or to the bottom of a water column.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aquatic vegetation (weeds), algae, invasive mussels, insects, fish species, and nutrients released from the bottom of waterways are controlled through the use of pesticides, and nutrient inactivation compounds.

The current technology for the subsurface application of these materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) is surface injection, granular spreaders, and the use of weighted hoses deployed from a vessel (boat). Surface injection of these materials below the thermocline, or to the bottom of a water body in sufficient concentrations to control the target pest, to deactivate nutrients, and or enhance water quality is required in the industry. The current technology that utilizes the use of weighted hose is cumbersome, and is a slow process that allows for the application of these materials at approximately 1-2 miles per hour.

Granular materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) have been developed for the control of aquatic vegetation (weeds), algae, invasive mussels, insects, fish species, and nutrients released from the bottom of a waterways as a means of product placement below the thermocline, or to the bottom of a water body. These granular products can be more expensive to use then the use of liquid materials, are more labor intensive to apply, and can result in increased worker exposure to the materials. The use of weighted hose systems are slow, time consuming and cumbersome, and has not been economical for the industry.

An economical system for the application of materials below the thermocline, or to the bottom of a water body remains to be disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A vessel mounted system is disclosed for the subsurface application of liquid and granular materials including aquatic herbicides, pesticides, larvacides, mulascacides, algaecides, picecides, aluminum sulfate, other pesticides, and other granular and liquid products to waterways (lakes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, bays and impoundments, oceans and estuaries) for the control of aquatic vegetation, algae, fish, mussels, nutrients fluctuations, and water quality enhancement. The trailing hose or hoses are manually or mechanically released to the length required for the application of the materials to the desired water depth. The trailing hose system requires no weights to sink the hose, but rather additional hose lengths are released from the vessel until the hose reaches the desired water depth. Rather than through conventional means where weighted hoses are deployed beneath a vessel, and the vessels slow speed is critical to keep the hose from raising up in the water column, the trailing hose system releases additional hose to a length where is at the desired depth within the water column, which can be any depth.

The disclosed method increases the efficiencies of the application of the materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality Improvement compounds) to the bottom of a waterway, or any depth in between the bottom and the surface. Consequently, the trailing hose system improves and increases the efficiencies of the application of the materials to waterways, and will support the eradication and control of invasive aquatic species, and support the application of materials for water quality enhancement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent after referring to the following specifications and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation taken through a vessel including a pumping or metering system to feed the materials into the trailing hose or hoses.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the trailing hose system applying materials to the bottom of a water body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, vessel V powered by an outboard is shown with the trailing hoses 2 extended near the bottom of a water body. A material pumping or feeding system 1 on said vessel where the materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) are metered or rate controlled.

The compound is released from the end of the trailing hose 2. The degree of increased production through the use of the trailing hose process, compared to the use of weighted hoses, can easily be understood. By releasing or retrieving additional lengths of hose from the vessel V, the end of the trailing hose system can be adjusted to any depth within the water column.

Material pumping or feeding systems, as well as hose and hose reels, are commercially available. For example, material pumping and feeding systems, as well as hoses and hose reels, can be obtained from Spraying Systems, Inc. of Wheaton, Ill.

Once the trailing hoses are deployed to their desired depths, the material pumping or feeding system 1 is activated, the vessel V proceeds in a forward direction, and the material is released at the desired depth.

The trailing hoses can be manually or mechanically retrieved or released as the vessel V proceeds, and water depth changes.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that material pumping and feeding system 3 is supplying the material from tank or tanks 6 through fitting 4, and Into hose or hoses 5 for release at the desired water depth. 

1: Process for the application of materials (pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) in a water body from a floating disposition on the water surface comprising: a vessel for water born support of the apparatus; a material pumping or feeding system on said vessel where the materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) are metered or rate controlled into the trailing hose system; means for releasing and retrieving said trailing hose or hoses to various depths within the water column via manual or mechanical means; 2: Process for the application of materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) in a water body from a floating disposition on the water surface according to claim 1 and wherein: said means for releasing and retrieving said trailing hose or hoses includes a manual or automatic hose reel; 3: Process for the application of materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) in a water body from a floating disposition on the water surface according to claim 2 and wherein: said materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) can be applied at various water depths within a water body; 4: Process for the application of materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) in a water body from a floating disposition on the water surface according to claim 3 and wherein: providing a vessel for water born support of said apparatus; providing a material pumping or feeding system on said vessel to discharge the materials (liquid or granular pesticides, nutrient inactivation, water quality improvement compounds) into the trailing hose or hoses at a specific rate A vessel mounted system is disclosed for the application of the materials through the trailing hose or hoses for the control of aquatic vegetation, algae, fish, mussels, nutrients fluctuations, other invasive and non invasive species, and water quality enhancements. 